The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-28
THE WEEKS TRADE,
Dun's Review of What Has Been Going on
the Past Seven Days.

tno fast seven days.
NEW YORK. December, 23.-R. G. Du n
g. 20 = their weekly review Of trade say:
Business througno--.. the country is act
i've for the season, and though coi.cH"tions
at some points are slow and credits are
strained, the reports are generally fairly
satisfactory, But uncertainty and hesita-
ton affects important branches OF pro-
duction, and the industrial outlook does
not improve. Currency is generally in
good supply, even where payments are
slowest and credits most strained.
Speculation has been less active, and
the general level of prices, though
higher than week ago in
most speculative markets, has on the whole
declined little. Since July 1, the average
Of prices in speculative markets has ad-
vanced 10 per cent, with the tendency
still upward, while the average advance in
all other prices has been per cent, with
the later tendency downward. These facts
indicate activity in trading rather than
satisfactory relations OF supply and de-
mand.
The iron trade is unsettled, with sales of
several thousand tons of Birmingham pig
here, while at Philadelphia offers 81 beloW
the market are noted. Sales of
10000 tons of steel rails have
been made during the week, and generally
at terms netting between S31 and $50. Bar
iron is weaker, and the tendency to shrink
age in demand appears not only in crude
but in many manufactured forms of iron
and steel.
Wool Is not active, and prices range 10 10
IL per cent. below those of May last, not
withstandiDg the decrease in imports and
in home production, which shov VS. a curtail-
ment of the manufacture. Cottons are
firm at recent advances, and in good de.
msnd for the season, print cloth having
this week risen TO $40 bid, but continued
large supplies cause raw cotton TO recede
&c. The boot and shoe business is doing
well, and il is noted that purchasers ere
already hurrying up their orders, while
Il leather trade improves slightly, TX
al all.
1he Lehigh coal strike continues, and
Il consequent financial strain is in some
arters severe. Men have already struck,
several manufacturing establishments
b. We closed for the present, and the re.
pairs usual at this season are likely to con-
tinue longer than usual, il markets do not
change. On the other hand, the distrlbu.
ton of groceries is noticed in all
sections as unusually large, and the
trade in holiday goods is both
large and unusually early. At st. Paul,
Detroit and some other points, the weather
is noticed ss causing dizziness in some
branches OF business, and at lew 0tner
points activity continues in retail trade,
though wholesale business exhibits some
shrinksge. But The general volume Of
trade shown in bank clearings outside this
city is even now fully as large as last
years at this period.
Notwithstanding the expected Reading
strike, stocks have averaged fraction higher
than a week ago, but the market has been
exceedingly dull. Wheat has risen ~
cents, oil 80 cents, coffee quarter, with
greater distribution, and hogsshalf a cent,
and pork % cents per barrel. Foreign
trade shows small decrease in imports,
while exports from this city for three
weeks have been per cent below those
of corresponding weeks last year.
The business failures during the last
seven days number for the United State:
261 and for Canada %; total 300; com
pared with 2SS last week, and 263, for the
corresponding week last year.